The Effect of Mitomycin-C on Corneal Endothelial Cells after Photorefractive Keratectomy

PURPOSE: To evaluate short-term changes in central corneal endothelial cell density and morphology after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) with mitomycin-C (MMC) 0.02% in patients with moderate myopia. METHODS: In this prospective interventional case series, patients with moderate myopia (spherical equivalent refractive error from −4.0 to −8.0 D) underwent PRK with a single intraoperative application of MMC 0.02% for 40 seconds. Specular microscopy was performed preoperatively and repeated 6 months after surgery to determine changes in central corneal endothelial cell density (ECD), mean cell area (MCA) and coefficient of variation in cell size (CV). RESULTS: Overall, 42 eyes of 21 participants with mean age of 26.2±6.3 years underwent surgery. Mean preoperative spherical equivalent refractive error was −5.2±1.2 D which was reduced to −0.4±0.5 D postoperatively (P < 0.001). Mean ECD was reduced insignificantly from 2,920±363 cells/mm(2) preoperatively to 2,802±339 cells/mm(2) postoperatively (P = 0.59). Similarly, there was no significant change in MCA or CV at six months (P = 0.76 and 0.52, respectively). CONCLUSION: Application of MMC 0.02% for 40 seconds during PRK in patients with moderate myopia did not significantly affect central corneal endothelial cell density and morphology after a 6 month follow up period.